Curly's Capers

It drizzles, a brooding Saturday, as children conspire, but lack momentum to initiate a plan. Streets offer charity in shops and big issues happen in doorways. Aromas waft a cultural change, as grease becomes smoke in Organic Square. Burgers are dressed up and hot dogs develop old spots. Customers parade. Sellers display: exchanges are made: quality is assumed. Into  this formality, comes a samba band; all clangs and beats; dancing up the streets. The would-bee environmental guardians, prevail in green and yellow. Perhaps Brazil will win the World Cup? Stroud thinks so.  Ck. 29/05/'10 http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/2009/09/stroud-worlds-first-bee-guardian-town.html

I have forsaken the hills, valleys, and slopes for the water meadows and river banks. In short, dear reader I have today (27/5) started the Thames Path . It is the only National Trail that follows the entire length of a river, from its source in rural Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier in London; the good news is that the topography is reasonably flat; the bad news is that it is 184 miles in length. It therefore seems unlikely I will endure all those miles, but I would hope to follow its banks, at least as far as Oxford. At this point I should add that, as with the  Cotswold Way  I am using the National Trail Guide, this time written by David Sharp  , which no doubt I will be referring to in the weeks ahead. The start point today was Kemble Railway Station, where I parked the car. I made my way as per guide out of the station, looking for a footpath on my right: none appeared. Not, you will agree a good way to begin a walking quest. In desperation, I rang the...

"Time past and time future What might have been and what has been Point to one end, which is always present". Thus wrote T.S. Eliot, From ' The Four Quartets' He was especially found of  Hidcote Manor Garden. It is a quiet piece of eternity. Ck.

Pitched up the other day at Tyntesfield, the Portishead side of Brisile. It is a grade one listed Victorian House and Gardens; which would have decayed away, were it not for The National Trust taking it over in 2002. The House's exterior has been incased in scaffold, as can be seen from the above photo. Amazingly, one can enter the house and see many of the rooms; although because of damage to fabrics, there is restricted light, with curtains and shutters closed; especially noticeable in the 'Morning Room',  where we were told that large quantities of solar light streamed through the windows. the unique selling point  regarding Tyntesfield, at this time is a roof walk, which allows the visitor to be at chimney level; whilst at the same time seeing the work of restoration by the stone masons. The above picture doesn't do justice to the experience; which has the additional dimension, of being at roof level, yet still under material cover. I was told the scaffo...

With the imminent return of the ruling class this Thursday; thought it a good idea to re-join the National Trust, before fees escalate. Also it gives me something to do between walks. This is a view from Croome Park, in Worcestershire; the first of the properties I have visited so far. This was " Capability" Brown's first landscaped project. The Trust brought this estate in 1996 and have been bringing it slowly back to its former glory. The above view was taken near the House, which is also being carefully renovated. (6 rooms now open) Interestingly in the 80s, a community of saffron robed monks, Hare Krishna  lived there; holding open days and being seen in the nearby village. The above is a detail, from their brightly coloured 'fruit' decoration, which still adorns the walls of the Hall. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-croomepark/ Finally, changing the subject, I wanted to share this picture with you, of the idiocy ...